Triggering unit for actuating a mechanical switching unit of a device

• US 9,117,612 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Feil, Wolfgang, Maier, Martin, Pfitzner, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Leja, Ronald W
• Application Number:
  US14/363,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20140321023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 361/194
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2007/068 using printed circuit coils
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/22 for supplying energising current for relay coil
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 51/00 Electromagnetic relays relays using the dynamo-electric effect H01H53/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 51/06 Armature is movable between two limit positions of rest and is moved in one direction due to energisation of an electromagnet and after the electromagnet is de-energised is returned by energy stored during the movement in the first direction, e.g. by using a spring, by using a permanent magnet, by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 61/01 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/2454 characterised by the magnetic circuit or active magnetic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/2481 characterised by the coil design
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/28 with windings acting in conjunction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/322 with plunger type armature

Abstract

A triggering unit includes a tappet having a moving bearing, a power accumulator, a holding device and a printed circuit board coil. In the normal state the power accumulator acts upon the tappet with a power accumulator force in the direction of the first stop position and the holding device holds the tappet with a holding force in the second stop position. A printed circuit board coil force can be generated by an activation of the printed circuit board coil. The power accumulator, the holding device and the printed circuit board coil are formed such that the tappet rests in the second stop position in the inactive state of the printed circuit board coil and through an activation of the printed circuit board coil, the tappet assumes the first stop position such that the triggered status is given.

Claims

1. A triggering unit for actuating a mechanical switching unit of a device for interrupting a supply phase of a load, the triggering unit comprising:

a movably mounted plunger, configured to assume a first and a second stop position;

an energy accumulator;

a holding device; and

a printed circuit board coil, wherein the triggering unit is configured to assume a triggered state and a normal state, wherein the plunger is situated in the first stop position in the triggered state and in the second stop position, opposite the first stop position, in the normal state, wherein in the normal state, the energy accumulator is configured to apply an energy accumulator force to the plunger in a direction of the first stop position and the holding device is configured to hold the plunger in the second stop position via a holding force, wherein the printed circuit board coil is configured to generate a printed circuit board coil force, wherein the energy accumulator, the holding device and the printed circuit board coil are embodied in such a way that in an inactive state of the printed circuit board coil, the plunger is configured to remain in the second stop position and, as a result of the printed circuit board coil being activated, the plunger is configured to assume the first stop position, such that the triggered state is present, and wherein the printed circuit board coil is embodied by way of a printed circuit board.

2. The triggering unit of claim 1, wherein in the normal state, the holding force acting on the plunger is relatively greater than the energy accumulator force acting on the plunger, resulting in the plunger remaining in the second stop position.

3. The triggering unit of claim 1, wherein in the activated state, the energy accumulator force acting on the plunger is relatively greater than the holding force acting on the plunger, resulting in the plunger remaining in the first stop position.

4. The triggering unit of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board coil is embodied as multilayer.

5. The triggering unit of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board coil is embodied within the printed circuit board.

6. The triggering unit of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board of the printed circuit board coil comprises an evaluation unit for controlling the printed circuit board coil.

7. The triggering unit of claim 6, wherein if a thermal overload of the load supplied with energy by way of the device is detected, the evaluation unit is configured to activate the printed circuit board coil, thereby interrupting the supply phase to the load.

8. The triggering unit of claim 1, wherein the plunger is enclosed by a pot made of ferromagnetic material.

9. The triggering unit of claim 8, wherein the printed circuit board of the printed circuit board coil adjacent to an outermost winding of the printed circuit board coil includes at least one aperture and wherein the pot is mechanically connected to the printed circuit board by way of said at least one aperture.

10. The triggering unit of claim 9, wherein the at least one aperture frames at least 50% of an outermost winding of the printed circuit board coil.

11. The triggering unit of claim 1, wherein the holding device is arranged on a side surface of the printed circuit board coil and a plate made of ferromagnetic material is arranged between the holding device and the printed circuit board coil.

12. The triggering unit of claim 1, wherein in the normal state a part of the lateral surface of the plunger is framed by the printed circuit board coil.

13. A device for interrupting a supply phase of a load, the device comprising:

a mechanical switching unit; and

the triggering unit of claim 1, wherein in the triggered state, the triggering unit is configured to actuate the mechanical switching unit, resulting in the device interrupting a supply phase of the load.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein a supply current path of a load is configured to be routed through the device via an input-side and output-side terminal of the device, wherein in the normal state of the triggering unit, the input-side terminal is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the output-side terminal and wherein in the triggered state of the triggering unit, the electrically conductive connection between the input-side terminal and the output-side terminal is interrupted.

15. The triggering unit of claim 1, wherein the energy accumulator is a spring.

16. The triggering unit of claim 1, wherein the holding device is a permanent magnet.

17. The triggering unit of claim 2, wherein in the activated state, the energy accumulator force acting on the plunger is relatively greater than the holding force acting on the plunger, resulting in the plunger remaining in the first stop position.

18. A device for interrupting a supply phase of a load, the device comprising:

a mechanical switching unit; and

the triggering unit of claim 2, wherein in the triggered state, the triggering unit is configured to actuate the mechanical switching unit, resulting in the device interrupting a supply phase of the load.

19. A device for interrupting a supply phase of a load, the device comprising:

a mechanical switching unit; and

the triggering unit of claim 3, wherein in the triggered state, the triggering unit is configured to actuate the mechanical switching unit, resulting in the device interrupting a supply phase of the load.